To Timmy, at 10 years old

I cannot believe that you are TEN!  That number is so big!  That makes me so old!  As I posted on Facebook on your birthday, "No one has affected my life and heart as much as this one. Turning me into a mom and growing into a person I am so proud of I could burst."  You totally turned Daddy and I into the people we are today, into parents, into a family.  You entered our lives easily and nothing has been the same since.  I have not been bored since the day you were born.  I have not felt alone or lonely or without purpose or motivation.  My life is split into before Timmy was born and after!

You are a sweet, sweet kid.  You still love to climb into our bed and cuddle with us, you regularly slip your hand into mine while out in public, and you greeted me with a (awkward) hug in the middle of the cafeteria the last week of school, knowing that you wanted to hug me but that you would be teased, which you were.  You are a great friend and a fantastic big brother.  You are open with your feelings, telling people when you miss them and when you feel hurt.  I hope you never stop. You acknowledge the every day things, you will see me carrying the laundry basket and thank me for doing the laundry.  You wrote a 'story' about me in computer lab, it said, "She's nice and fun she always cares for me. She always comes to see me play sports. She works hard on everything she does."  You are impressed when Dad tackles a new project around the house, surprised he knows how to do whatever it is.  You notice how many hours Dad puts into Little League and miss him when he's at meetings at bed time.  This doesn't mean that you always show appreciation or make things easier on us though!  You might put baseball pants inside out on the floor, instead of right side out in the hamper, the same day you thank me for doing the laundry!  But I'm working on you on that, and it's validating just for you to notice, most of the time.

You have gotten so big!  You are officially taller than M&M and approaching Baba's height.  Your new tennis shoes are too big for me.  You are now 4'-9 3/4" and you've also filled out, you are solid and strong.  You are big enough for some new chores now too!

We got you your own phone, for various reasons but you can largely thank Movie Pass.  But you have started running home from school, walking Sonic, going to friend's houses from school, and being left home alone for short stints, so it was time.  It's worth mentioning just to share this video.

You continue to be a friend to everyone in your classes, but you definitely have your best friends.  The Three Doritos voted to add a 4th this year when Carson joined your school, but the three original members are definitely still BFF's.  

You and Caleb get super excited to see each other every chance you get, though visits are further between then any of us would like!

Your birthday party was an epic pool party again this year, there were at least 40 kids, mostly 4th graders with some younger siblings.  You had a blast and I loved seeing you smile all afternoon.

You are undoubtedly a baseball player.  Over the past year you have really taken pride in your playing.  Not to say that you don't have other interests, or that you never complain about going to practice.  But when you're on the field you own it.  We are wrapping up All Star season right now and there are few things I love more then watching you play third, hitting, and running the bases.  I recently overheard you telling Tyler that his upcoming season, moving up to AA, is when baseball will really click.  You have big plans to play lots of catch with Tyler this summer.  The second half of this season, and into All Star season I have seen a big change in your attention on the field.  I have regularly heard you being the first and loudest to respond, "Yes, Coach!" and you are the first to call out and charge at bunts.  Your running is smart and you have made some great tagging outs.  I have not heard a coach tell you to get into position or pay attention in months, you already are.

During your House season this Spring, there was a game that Dad had to leave early to attend a League meeting.  You had a fantastic game, great fielding, great hitting, great pitching.  On our drive home I was telling you what a great game you had, and you kept asking what time Dad would be home.  I asked you, "Why are you so worried about what time Dad is getting home?" and you answered, "Because I want him to congratulate me."  I let out a little laugh and you said, "What? I'm always working hard so he will be proud of me."  I told you that was a very honest response!

Pitching during said game

You had a big Spring activity wise.  The Warriors did a tournament in Dewey on Saint Patrick's Day  Weekend and in Manassas on Memorial Day Weekend, giving you guys a chance to have fun on and off the field!

You participated in Running with the Stars after school and ran a 5K with the club and Aunt Becky at the end of the season.  

Your House team won the regular season with an 8-2-1 record and you were a leader and star on the team.  

You also played flag football and that team won the Championship game as well, with plenty of plays by you helping to get them there, racking up interceptions and breaking up passes throughout the season.  (You missed the actual Championship game though, due to an All-Star game at the same time).   

Interception!

You have also continued with Piano Lessons, and you take pride in your friend's surprise when they find out you play the piano, you like that, "You wouldn't think from looking at me that I play the piano."  You did wonderfully at your recital a few weeks ago.

You had an absolutely fantastic school year!  It was the first grade that the classes had two teachers, moving between their classrooms during the day.  They were an amazing team and they loved your classes as much as you all loved them!  You actually cried when showing me selfies you took with your teachers on the last day, an emotion you haven't shown at the end of a school year since preschool!  Your grades were great, and you really started to shine in history especially.  We still need to get you on track with your multiplication facts, but you tested well enough in math that you were selected for AP math next year.  There was very little homework this year, which was great for our schedule, but I'm worried about getting you back into the swing of homework next year!

One of many field day victories sealed in this clip! (You're not competitive at all...)

If I didn't talk more about how you are with Tyler, I would be leaving out a huge part of your life.  You are still a great big brother 99% of the time.  You show frustration when you're asked to do more then him, or to run upstairs to get something for him, or to set a good example for him.  One night even ended in you sobbing that you didn't want to be the oldest and that we 'love Tyler more because he's little and cute.'  But the more typical Timmy loves waking Tyler up for school with cuddles and sneaking him into your bed when I've told him to sleep in his own.  When Tyler recently went for a sleepover at Grandad and Susan's you begged to go too, and went to bed early, bored, when I suggested Tyler get some time there to himself.  Just this week Tyler was overtired and missing me while I was at work, so you called me for him and let him talk to me, and when I asked you to give Tyler a big hug for me, you said you were already snuggling him.  You are both quick to defend the other when one of you does get into trouble with us.  And you are more then worthy of all of his admiration of you!  You guys turned your whole room into a fort the first day of summer and won't let me take it down, you've been playing in it and sleeping in it every night.

One more example of the great kid you are turning out to be: I was watching the 4th grade kick ball game on the second to last day of school, talking with your teachers.  You and Nate were on one team, Logan and Josh on the other, and it was very competitive.  You were pitching and Catherine came up to kick (she has multiple developmental issues, and has been in your classes since Kindergarten) and she kicked the ball right back to you.  Several of your teammates yelled for you to get her out, you shrugged and threw the ball... 10 feet behind her.  I almost cried, and both of your teacher's said, "Awww," and then made comments to me that knowing you, it didn't really surprise them that you had done that.  (And this was all you, not a mandated class rule, a few plays later one of your teammates got Catherine out as she was running to third.)

Just keep doing what you're doing buddy, you are on the right track!  We love you so much!